The Beauty Within the Gates
Chapter 108
Pei Qing took a pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Xie Shao. “This is for the medicine money I owe Sister-in-law from when we first came to the Eastern Capital.”
When he had left Southern City, he had been gravely wounded. Wen Shuse had taken out all the silver she carried and used it to treat his injuries. He had promised her that once he earned money in the future, he would repay her. There were six hundred taels in the pouch, one hundred times what Wen Shuse had given him back then. “Help me tell Sister-in-law thank you.”
Xie Shao did not stand on ceremony. He accepted it and asked him, “Have you thought things through?”
A flicker of uncertainty passed through Pei Qing’s eyes. He turned his head to look at the official ship ahead. “I do not know if it counts as having thought things through, but lately, I have dreamed less.”
“Since you already bear the Zhou surname, this is a new life. Having come into this human world once, it is about time you properly live for yourself.”
—
At the end of the hour of si (around 11 am), Pei Qing and Cui Nian boarded the official ship and headed toward Fengcheng.
Pei Qing discussed matters with his advisers, while Cui Nian returned to the cabin to sleep.
Riding on an official ship, with private cabins, was completely different from the seatless passenger boat Cui Nian had taken on his way here because he wanted to save money. Having a few imperial brothers was still a good thing. One only had to lean slightly to the side, and one could brush against wealth and honor as well.
During his days in the Eastern Capital, Cui Nian had been busy from morning to night and had not slept properly. Before leaving, he could not let go of anything, his mind full of worries about the shops. Now that the ship had reached the middle of the river, with river wind blowing in through the windows on both sides and the sound of water striking the hull in his ears, the restlessness in his heart slowly calmed. He slept deeply.
When he woke, it was already night. After sleeping for an entire day, his back hurt. He draped a robe on and got up to find Pei Qing for a drink. After knocking on the door several times, there was no response.
Pei Qing had been busy all day. The advisers under him had only just taken office, and toward the newly assigned fief, they were full of fighting spirit and passion. A few of them spoke eloquently and tirelessly offered him plans and strategies. How could Pei Qing dare interrupt? From morning to night, he had accompanied them the whole time and had not even closed his eyes.
He had only just fallen asleep when Cui Nian woke him. A burst of irritation rose in him. “In the middle of the night, you are not sleeping? If you want to drink, drink by yourself. I’m not in the mood.”
Having been refused, Cui Nian carried the wine pot to the deck. Aside from the boatmen and guards keeping night watch, the deck was empty. Cui Nian leaned alone against the railing, drinking wine while admiring the scenery upon the river.
There were no stars at night, but the moon was quite round. Silver light spilled over the river surface, illuminating a large rippling halo of brightness. Above the broad river, the dome of heaven pressed very low, as if one only needed to lift a hand to touch it.
This trip to the Eastern Capital had opened his eyes. The ambition in his heart also began to stir restlessly.
The grain and iron shops in the Eastern Capital had opened an outward path for the Cui family. In the future, the places he would involve himself in would not only be the Eastern Capital, but the whole of Great Feng.
First, grain and iron.
In these years, the Liao army always liked to make little moves. Now, in Great Feng’s court, there was Brother Xie, full of strategy and wisdom; Brother Pei, with martial strength; and a Crown Prince with a fiery temper. Sooner or later, Great Liao and Great Feng would have a battle.
When war came, grain and iron would always be indispensable.
For the sake of brotherhood, when the time came, he might even give them a discount…
Food, drink, lodging, and travel—he also had to get involved in all of them. How could one Mixian Tower be enough? At the very least, he would build ten or more in every major city. What he wanted was for every region of Great Feng to have Cui family businesses.
After more than half a pot of wine had entered his throat, he had already floated halfway into the sky. Lowering his head to look at the moonlight upon the river, he did not know when it had turned into a glittering mountain of gold.
In this world, there was nothing he, Great Merchant Cui, could not accomplish.
Back then, when his parents passed away, everyone thought he could not do it. Yet he had shouldered the family burden and faced down his scheming relatives.
In this lifetime, what he loved most was money. His greatest ambition was to become a merchant wealthy enough to rival a nation.
If possible, on the day his great enterprise succeeded, he would marry a beautiful and virtuous wife to calculate accounts for him at home, have a fat baby boy, and when that fat boy grew up, let him inherit his enormous family fortune. He would only need to eat and drink, becoming the true first generation of a wealthy merchant family.
“Help…”
Suddenly, from atop the glittering golden mountain came a cry for help. With that single cry, the golden mountain of his fantasy instantly vanished. He saw a small boat on the river being battered by waves, continuously sinking downward. A person stood on the boat, desperately waving toward him. “Hey, you official! Did you hear me? Help…”
“What does that have to do with me?”
He was not an official. His sweet dream had been interrupted, and his mood was poor. He had never been someone who liked meddling in other people’s business. He turned his head and pretended not to see. He had only taken two steps when, behind him, there was a thud as something landed on the ground.
Cui Nian turned back in astonishment and saw an iron hook like an eight-clawed octopus hooked onto the deck, less than three cun from his heel. The shock sobered him up by eighty percent. He cursed, “What bold rebel dares attack an official ship!”
He hurriedly leaned over the railing and looked back toward the river. The boat had already sunk. Only one foot was flipped up on the river surface, and the person who had been standing on the boat was gone.
He instinctively looked at the river. Sure enough, that person had a rope tied around them and was struggling in the water, climbing toward the official ship.
An official ship was not like a passenger boat. It was so high. Could he climb up?
With a bit of curiosity, Cui Nian even forgot to call anyone. He leaned on the railing and watched as that person exhausted all their strength, pulling on the rope to climb upward. The arms and legs looked thin, but the strength was not small. She truly managed to climb up.
Once on the deck, the person had clearly used up all their strength. She collapsed onto the ground, turned their head, and looked at the one who had stood by with folded arms from beginning to end, merely watching the spectacle. Glowering, she panted and said, “You watched someone die without saving them. Do you even deserve to be a public servant?”
Her insult carried no sting. With both his hands stuck into his sleeves, he said, “Apologies. I am not an official. I am only someone freeloading a ride on this ship.”
He was just about to turn around and return to the cabin when he suddenly reacted. His expression shook. Without waiting for the other party to respond, he charged forward like an arrow from the bow and pressed down onto the person like a stone slab. He even grabbed the back of the person’s neck.
“Bold thief! Confess honestly. What purpose did you have in attacking an official ship at night? What intentions are you harboring? Who instructed you?”
The person had just gotten up, but with his press, they fell back onto the deck, forehead striking the floor so hard that stars burst before their eyes. After hearing this string of questioning, they could not help cursing inwardly: Was he an idiot?
With difficulty, the person turned their head. Earlier, on the river, she had not seen this person’s face clearly. Now, with lamplight on the deck, she finally made him out. Her expression froze for an instant, then she came to a sudden realization.
“Ah… you really are a fool.”
She kicked one heel upward, wanting to strike his most sensitive part. Unfortunately, this person was truly too heavy, and she failed to reach him. The things in her stomach were about to be pressed out by him. Calming herself, she said to him, “Can you get off me first before speaking?”
“Do you think I am stupid? If I get off, will you not run?”
“My boat is gone. Where would I run?” That person was speechless with anger. “Even a pig is not as heavy as you.”
Cui Nian had to deny this point. “What do I count as? If it were the one inside instead, you could be crushed to death on the spot. Would you still be able to speak here?”
Not giving her a chance to escape, Cui Nian shouted toward the inside, “Guards! There is a thief!”
“Thief, my head.” That person twisted her neck and pushed her face beneath Cui Nian’s eyelids. “Look carefully. Do you recognize me?”
“…”
—
In the end, Pei Qing was still woken. Before he had even walked onto the deck, he heard the quarrel outside.
He pushed open the door and, at a glance, saw Cui Nian with his back to him, hands on his waist, face flushed red as he argued with someone. “Where is my one hundred taels? When are you going to pay me back?”
A girl’s voice came, much calmer than his. “Your shop clearly says that all transactions are settled on the spot. Once you leave, it’s your responsibility.”
“That was a good-faith policy, in case someone left something behind! How could I have expected that at such a young age, instead of learning good things, you would learn how to deceive people? Do you know who my brother is? You’re messing with the wrong person.”
“Your brother? His Highness Ning Wang?” The girl sounded astonished. “You must be lying. How could Ning Wang be brothers with such an idiot like you?”
Idiot? Where was he an idiot? Before being deceived by her, he had been very clever. His lifelong brilliance had been completely ruined by her. As the force of the wine rushed up, his head seemed ready to explode, and stars flashed before his eyes. Even his words became stuttered.
“You…”
“What happened?” Pei Qing came out just in time.
Cui Nian finally saw his savior. Furious, he no longer wanted to argue with her. He did not even want that one hundred taels of silver anymore. Pointing at the girl before him, he said in a cold and decisive tone, “Brother Pei, throw her overboard.”
She had not expected him to truly be Ning Wang’s brother. The girl froze, her heart growing somewhat weak. She hurriedly knelt and saluted. “Your Highness, this is all a misunderstanding…”
Pei Qing had been woken halfway through sleep, and his head hurt. He asked, “Who are you?”
The girl lifted her head and, raising her chin, pointed toward Cui Nian beside her. “His friend.”
“When did I ever have a swindler friend like you?” Cui Nian’s eyelids twitched. “Brother Pei, throw her down. Though this person is female, earlier I saw her climb onto the deck with her bare hands. Her skill is definitely not ordinary. I happened to see her once in the Eastern Capital, and her intentions are extremely improper. Could she be a spy from somewhere?”
Idiot, but vicious, she thought.
The girl suddenly stepped forward and grabbed the hem of his robe, crying out in heart-rending injustice. “Young Master, I am wronged! Is it not just one hundred taels? How about you look at me, and if you think I am suitable, I will work as your maid to repay that hundred-tael debt?”
Who lacked maids? He only wanted silver. “Did you not have money on you that day?”
The girl’s expression became even more tragic. “Did the boat not sink…”
Retribution. A hundred taels had bought her a sunken boat.
Some of the anger in his heart faded. “Who are you? What are your surname and given name? You are not allowed to conceal the slightest thing. Report it all.”
“This little woman’s surname is Jiang, given name is Yao. I live in Fuzhou and am a fisherman’s daughter. Every word I have spoken is true. I ask Young Master and Your Highness to investigate clearly.”
A fisherman’s daughter… Then that eight-clawed iron rake could be explained.
No matter who she was, once they reached Fengcheng, they could have someone investigate and find out. In the middle of the night, there was only this official ship on the river. They could not truly throw her down.
Pei Qing glanced at Cui Nian. “Watch her. Once we reach Fengcheng, investigate her identity.”
Cui Nian: “…”
Why was he the one watching her? What did this have to do with him?
“Pei…”
“Young Master.”
The girl behind him called out to him. Cui Nian turned back and saw her smile radiantly at him. “Is there anything to eat? Steamed buns are fine too.”
It was already a mercy he had not fed her to the fish, and she still wanted to eat!
But looking at her, she did seem truly hungry. Her lips were pale, and her face was also white. Needless to say, her whole body was soaked, and water was still dripping steadily from her. With Brother Pei’s sense of righteousness, throwing her down to feed the fish was impossible. Since he could not have a satisfying outcome, he could only reduce his losses.
“What you said just now about using yourself to repay the debt, does it still count?”
The girl seemed to finally have seen how formidable he was and nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely.”
“Fine. Wait here.” Cui Nian first went inside and asked Pei Qing for a brush and paper. Then he came back out and said to the girl, “One hundred taels of silver. According to the human-market price, one year is thirty taels. You will have to be ordered around by me for four years. Black words on white paper. Press your mark on it. It will be good for both of us in the future.”
The girl questioned, “At the price of thirty taels a year, for one hundred taels of silver, how is that four years?”
“The rest is interest.”
The person was foolish, but his abacus was quite nimble. When one was under someone else’s roof, one had no choice but to lower one’s head.
“Fine.”
Cui Nian finished writing the clauses one by one, pressed his finger into the red seal paste, stamped his own fingerprint, then handed the red seal paste to her.
“Miss Jiang, please.”
The girl glanced at him and did not take it. She directly put her finger in her mouth and bit down. Blood beads welled up, and she pressed them onto the paper.
“That will do.”
Cui Nian: …
Seeing him put the contract into his sleeve, the girl asked again, “Can you give me something to eat now?”
Cui Nian led her to his own cabin and pointed to the food he had not touched during the day. “The steamed buns are there. Take them yourself.”
She took the whole plate and left with it.
Cui Nian had just closed the door latch when knocking came from outside. He turned back and opened the door and saw the girl’s gaze pass under his arm toward the dishes on his table. “Could I have one of those?”
In any case, he was not going to eat it. If she wanted it, she could have it. “Take it.”
Once she left, Cui Nian closed the door again. Before she had taken two steps, a knocking sounded behind him once more.
Cui Nian grew impatient. The moment he opened the door, his face looked unpleasant. “What is it now?”
The girl suddenly squeezed in from his side. “Am I not serving Young Master? As Young Master’s maid, I should remain by Young Master’s side at all times, like a shadow, and share the same room.”
She just had nowhere else to go.
Cui Nian watched as she placed the steamed buns and dishes back on the table and ate ravenously. “Fine. After you finish eating, go find a place to sleep in the outer cabin yourself. I am not used to having people around when I sleep.”
The girl nodded. Only after swallowing the bun in her mouth did she say, “Aren’t you afraid I will run?”
This was truly an excellent question. Cui Nian looked at her guardedly. “Will you run?”
“No.”
As if. Cui Nian pointed to the spot behind the door. “Just that area. You are not allowed to cross it. I do not need the bedding on the bed. Take it down and use it as a mat. Take off your wet clothes and put on something dry. Don’t drip on the floor…”
She ate her food while Cui Nian lay down on the bed. He was already tired after drinking wine, and after being disturbed by this unexpected guest, he was even more tired. Lying on the bed, he closed his eyes but did not dare truly sleep, guarding against her taking the chance to strike him.
After a long while without hearing any movement, he opened his eyes and turned his head. He saw a smooth expanse of the girl’s shoulder and back. His heart jumped, and he hurriedly turned his head away, his ears burning. “What are you doing?!”
“Did you not tell me to take off my wet clothes?”
Cui Nian covered his eyes tightly, afraid an eye might stray and see something it shouldn’t. His face was contorted. “I didn’t tell you to undress in front of me.”
These eyes of his had followed him for twenty years, always clean and pure. They were to be saved for looking at his future wife. They absolutely could not be ruined.
“Does Young Master have any dry clothes?”
Cui Nian’s voice changed pitch. “You did not bring any?”
“Did you not watch me climb up here with my bare hands?”
“If you do not have a change of clothes, why are you taking them off?”
“Was it not Young Master who told me to take them off?”
Where was she here to repay a debt? She was here to take his life. But things had already reached this point. If he drove her away now, his steamed buns and his dishes would all be lost too. Would that not be an even greater loss?
“Put your clothes back on first. I will go find some for you.”